Kraken Lament Collapse, Missed Opportunities at Year-End Exit Interviews
One month ago, the Seattle Kraken sat in a playoff spot, and after making an addition at the trade deadline on March 6, felt confident about their chances to compete in April.
“I think we have good depth throughout our lineup,” general manager Jason Botterill said following the deadline. “And this is a team that went through a tough stretch in December. The fact that they’ve been able to rebound from that and really take it, I like how we played at the end leading into the Olympic break. … Coming out of the break, I think there’s still another level we can get to.”
However, rather than taking a step forward, the Kraken took several steps back. From March 17 to April 16, the Kraken went 3-11-2 with just one regulation win against the Calgary Flames on April 11. After entering the stretch in the second wild card spot, Seattle finishes the year with the sixth-best odds to win the top pick in the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery.
Kraken Buried in ‘Unacceptable’ Loss to Blackhawks
The Seattle Kraken’s odds to make the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs were slim entering Saturday night’s matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks at Climate Pledge Arena.
However, facing the team with the second-worst record in the league provided Seattle an opportunity to at least extend its hopes. The Kraken can’t control the other bubble team’s results, but they can control the effort and urgency required to put themselves in the best position possible.
Even then, there wasn’t enough on Saturday night. With a 4-2 loss to a bottom-feeding Blackhawks, the Kraken all but solidified their place among them.
“I would just use one word,” Seattle coach Lane Lambert said. “I’m disappointed.”
Kraken Maintaining a Pulse With Three Points in Florida
The Stanley Cup playoffs begin in three weeks. There’s an argument to be made that it’s the most exciting postseason in professional sports.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs aren’t just hockey, it’s a controlled detonation of chaos, pain tolerance, and pure will. Every shift feels like it weighs a pound more, every hit echoes through the arena a little more, and every goal is either ecstasy or heartbreak. The margins shrink until the game becomes survival. Legends are carved out in April through June. It’s hockey at its rawest, loudest, most unforgiving, and most beautiful state.
The big question is, will the Seattle Kraken get into that dance?
Kraken Fall Back Into Bad Habits, Suffer 6-2 Loss to Lightning
It started with Jared McCann.
The Seattle Kraken forward said as much, referring to his turnover to Tampa Bay Lightning forward Gage Concalves on a hit along the boards that ultimately led to the latter giving his side a 1-0 lead just 5:45 into Tuesday’s game at Climate Pledge Arena, but it didn’t end there.
Between Tampa’s relentless forecheck and a couple of crucial mistakes on Seattle’s end, the Lightning stormed to a 3-0 lead. The Kraken managed to cut it to 3-2 midway through the second period, but more mistakes doomed them to a 6-2 loss.
Kraken Struggle to Shake Bad Habits in 5-1 Loss to Blues
It wasn’t pretty, but it was exactly what the Seattle Kraken wanted.
After allowing three tip-in goals in a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars the night before, the Kraken expressed a desire, a necessity, to throw more pucks on net to create scoring chances for themselves.
“We just need to get pucks towards the net, and get a greasy one,” defenseman Ryker Evans told reporters in Dallas after Wednesday’s game. “We were just trying to make a fancy play or just pass it, and we just need to get it to the net.”
So after Seattle allowed two goals in the first 95 seconds of the second period against the St. Louis Blues to go down 3-1 on Thursday, it appeared Evans followed through when the Kraken needed someone to cut the deficit.
‘Always Want to Get That One Back’: Wright Pulls Kraken Past Maple Leafs to Third Straight Win
Redeeming himself after an early snafu on Thursday night, Shane Wright’s two-goal effort steered the Kraken past the Maple Leafs in a convincing 5-2 win. Jumping into third place in the Pacific Division, how did Seattle get it done at Climate Pledge Arena?
Stripped of Hat Trick, Jared McCann Leads Kraken to Wild 5-1 Win vs. Capitals
While two separate chances to record a hat trick were taken away from him, Jared McCann finished with two goals and two assists for the Kraken to headline a dominant 5-1 win against the Capitals on Tuesday. What stood out from one of the team’s most complete games?
‘Weren’t Very Good at All’: Kraken Lose Crucial Home Division Matchup Against Ducks
With crucial points on the line against the Anaheim Ducks at Climate Pledge Arena on Friday, the Seattle Kraken floundered, missing out on a key opportunity in a loss Lane Lambert summed up as a “disappointment.”
Kraken Snap Skid in 4-1 Win vs. Islanders With Stellar Penalty Kill
It was a busy night for the Kraken penalty kill against the Islanders at Climate Pledge Arena on Wednesday, going 6-for-7 as Seattle snapped a four-game losing streak. How did the Kraken get it done after falling behind early?
Mistakes Continue to Plague Kraken in Return Home in 6-3 Loss to Penguins
A third period goal from Eeli Tolvanen gave the Kraken life, trimming the Penguins’ lead to 4-3. But the home side couldn’t find the equalizer before Rickard Rakell slipped an ugly goal past goalie Joey Daccord en route to a 6-3 Penguins win.
Kraken Build ‘Rare’ Big Lead, Extend Point Streak to Six Against Predators
Continuing to play much better on the ice, the Kraken extended their points streak to six thanks to an explosive first period that had been unrivaled by the franchise in over a calendar year. How did Seattle put away Nashville swiftly at Climate Pledge Arena?
Kraken Settle for 3-2 Shootout Loss to Canucks
The Kraken outshot the Canucks by 16 across the third period and overtime, but couldn’t beat goaltender Kevin Lankinen with the game hanging in the balance, who turned in a gem to snap Seattle’s four-game winning streak at Climate Pledge Arena.
Kraken Plan to ‘Stick With the Process’ Amid Lingering Slump
The Kraken are 1-8-1 over their past 10 games, and despite going toe-to-toe with the NHL-best Avalanche in Tuesday’s latest loss, they are continuously failing to get results. But even with those results, Lane Lambert still believes, at least for now.
Kraken Reverse Fortunes With Thrilling 3-2 OT Win vs. Kings
Entering the final minute, it appeared the Kraken would lose its sixth straight game in regulation, once again allowing the go-ahead goal in the third period against the Kings. But a late power-play goal from Matty Beniers forced overtime, where Vince Dunn ended the skid.
Kraken Concede Another Late Winner, Lose Sixth Straight
For the second game in a row — and the third time in five games — the Seattle Kraken allowed the go-ahead goal in the third period of an otherwise close game in Monday’s 4-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild. The Kraken have lost five straight in regulation and six consecutive overall.
Kraken Suffer 3-2 Loss to Stars in ‘Game of Inches’
The Kraken put up 28 shots on goal, their highest single-game output since their last matchup against Dallas on November 9, but the Stars and goalie Casey DeSmith did enough to fend them off in a 3-2 loss for Seattle on Wednesday.
Third-Period Comeback Leads Kraken to 3-2 Win Against Blackhawks
The Seattle Kraken took advantage of Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard’s late penalty when Brandon Montour connected with Jaden Schwartz for the winning power-play goal in Seattle’s 3-2 victory against Chicago on Thursday.
Kraken Struggle Offensively vs. Rangers, Fall 3-2 in Overtime
The Seattle Kraken once again salvaged a point in the standings by the skin of their teeth, but fell in overtime for the second time in a week, as J.T. Miller connected with Will Cuylle to give the New York Rangers a 3-2 overtime win at Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday.
After Listless Start, Kraken Comeback Attempt Falls Short in 4-3 OT Loss to Canadiens
Despite the comeback going incomplete in overtime, Kraken head coach Lane Lambert made a personnel decision to jumpstart the team down three with 14 minutes left that allowed Seattle to come away from their Tuesday game with a point.
‘Opportunistic’ Kraken Fend Off Oilers in 3-2 Win
Protecting a 2-1 lead entering the third period at Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday, the Kraken expected a push from the Edmonton Oilers. So when that push came to fruition right off the opening faceoff, they positioned themselves accordingly.
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